Incumbent Johnny Jenkins and former school board member Elleveen Poston have been elected to serve another term as members of Florence School District 2 Board of Trustees.
A total of 530 votes were cast during the annual citizens’ meeting held March 26, Superintendent Robert Sullivan said in a telephone interview.
Jenkins, who ran unopposed for Seat 6, received 516 votes.
Poston and Melvin Lewis, an employee of Morris Lumber in Pamplico, were the candidates for Seat 7.
Poston won the Seat 7 race by a 30-point margin, having received 280 votes to Lewis’ 250 votes.
Board member James Jones, who held Seat 7, retired from the school board.
Poston retired from the school board after serving 18 years as a trustee. She is the owner of Smith Fuel Co. Inc. and Quality Transport Inc. in Lake City.
Poston said in a previous interview she had a wealth of experience and that the board needed a mixture of both experienced and new school board members, especially during the difficult financial times facing school districts.
After the election, the proposed 2009-10 operating budget totaling $7,578,358 was approved.
District officials estimated revenue totals to be $6,848,892, so next year’s budget would have a shortfall of $729,466.
District officials are looking at several ways to balance the budget including the potential of stimulus funds, freezing travel and reducing purchase services and supplies’ accounts.
If the district was given permission from the state legislature to furlough professional employees next year, that could be an option the district could consider to help offset the shortfall.
A five-day furlough across the board or for every district employee could be about $413,000, which would significantly cut the deficit, Sullivan said.
Sullivan said that he had “to be cognizant enough to be able to tell the board and staff, that (budget shortfalls) could affect personnel” and that the district would look at attrition to help balance the budget.
Stimulus money, the actions taken by the district to trim budgets and any surplus in 2008-09 will certainly help the district in 2009-10, he said.
On the Web
Florence School District 2, www.flo2.k12.sc.us
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